Desperate for more of the series, I purchased the digital copies of both of Brett’s novellas. This first one was a brief collection. And if The WardedDesperate for more of the series, I purchased the digital copies of both of Brett’s novellas. This first one was a brief collection. And if The Warded Man had been a DVD, then this would surely be considered the “bonus features”. Each of the three sections included an introduction explaining how they related to the first book in the series and why they were excised (mostly for length). So more than “stories” these felt like deleted scenes. None of them were vital to the overall story arc, but they definitely filled my appetite for more in the series. The titular story also filled in some of the inside jokes between Arlen and Abban. A glossary appeared here, very similar to the one in The Daylight War which will definitely be useful to some readers. The ward and demon descriptions at the end made for a particularly nice touch. It acted as a nice segway between the first and second books in the series, but was priced a bit high for a digital version....more

This past Halloween, I participated in a lot of chatter about that scariest of spooky story collections - actually, it’s a trilogy - compiled by AlvinThis past Halloween, I participated in a lot of chatter about that scariest of spooky story collections - actually, it’s a trilogy - compiled by Alvin Schwartz and terrifyingly illustrated by Stephen Gammel: Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark. Recently, the publishers re-released it, but with tamer illustrations - a complete travesty to the horror genre. All this talk of frightening stories put me in the mood for a new collection, and the fact that some of my favorite authors have contributed to this collection made this seem like a perfect fit. Admittedly, Schwartz’s collection set the bar high, but I felt sure that this talented bunch of authors could meet those expectations...

“Knickerbocker Holiday” - Richard Bowes: Unfortunately, this opening story lacks the chills and thrills that I had hoped for when cracking open the book’s spine. While the Legend of Sleepy Hollow is one that I recall being mildly frightened of as a child, this new rendition that revolves primarily around late middle-aged New Yorkers gabbing in a bar simply fails to frighten. The characters aren’t even likable here with the narrator’s pointless recreational drug use to the resulting visions, nothing intrigued me about this story at all. A lackluster beginning all around.

“That Girl” - Kaaron Warren: This is a more appropriate story for the opening of the collection. Warren reworks the myth of the hitchhiking woman in white, giving the tale a whole new perspective. It is not a terrifying revamping, but it is a fascinating one. It’s well done and even manages to cram in a sympathetic main character in only a handful of pages.

“Akbar” - Kit Reed: This next story is well-written, but more confusing than scary. Sara spends the novel in a daze, and that daze is quite contagious. Staying awake through this story is something of an accomplishment, though the legend of Akbar itself is interesting. Perhaps those more familiar with the legend will enjoy this one more.“The Spring Heel” - Steven Pirie: Pirie’s addition to the collection also pulls from an original legend that I am completely unfamiliar with - that of the Spring Heel Jack. There’s some gory/graphic description here, more in line with a traditional scary story, but otherwise, the story is pretty tame. It is lushly written, with easy dialogue, but the characters never truly come to life, and the setting itself is vague and sort of timeless which makes it hard to connect to.

“Red As Red” - Caitlin R. Kiernan: So far, this is the strongest entry in the collection. I am a bit biased however, after having already read some of Kiernan’s previous work. I know she is a talented writer, and while this isn’t my favorite piece of her work, it maintains the eeriest atmosphere yet in the book. It works as an homage to Bram Stoker’s Dracula while also incorporating both the Black Dog myths as well as some werewolf legend. The storyline is clear, with a real sense of immediacy and tension. It is one of the longer stories presented, but it flies by altogether too fast, leaving me thirsty for another one of her novels!

“Tin Cans” - Ekaterina Sedia: This story isn’t spooky exactly, but definitely has a very real horror-genre vibe to it. From a legend angle, this one fascinates as well as introduces to the factual story of Lavrentiy Pavlovich Beria, a villain in the USSR under Stalin’s regime. Sedia writes with clear imagery and completely brings this story to a full and complete life. It is very intriguing - whetting curiosity for both her works and more facts on Beria’s life.

“Shoebox Train Wreck” - John Mantooth: Mantooth’s story returns to more familiar ground as he explores the legend that haunts train tracks in so many towns - if you put flour on the bumper and along the car’s sides, small ghost handprints will be revealed as ghost children (typically killed in a bus-train collision as Mantooth depicts here) push the car to safety. Mantooth’s twist on the traditional perspective breathes fresh life into the story, but there aren’t any really scary moments to it. The story really comes to life, though.

“Fifteen Panels Depicting The Sadness of the Baku and the Jotai” - Catherynne M. Valente: This story alone is the main reason why I purchased this collection. I love Valente’s lush and complex writing. The way she structures her stories (and novels), and her unique turn of phrasing always leaves me breathless. This Japanese-based legend is completely engrossing, a little strange and completely wonderful. It may not have had the chills that I originally expected, but it is my favorite in the entire collection.

“La Llorna” - Carolyn Turgeon: Turgeon takes a myth from Mexico and brings it to life in a very entertaining way. The Crying Lady who stalks the beach has fresh life here, in a tightly written, very full-circle version. After not enjoying Turgeon’s Cinderella-based novel, I am truly shocked at how much I liked this story.

“Face Like A Monkey” - Carrie Laben: After encountering the “Big Bird of Texas” myth on MonsterQuest for the first time, this (to me at least) fictional debut, is quite a delight. It is interesting and surprisingly suspenseful, with likable characters, too. Very well done!

“Down Atsion Road” - Jeffrey Ford: Here, Ford sets up a more genuinely creepy vibe by giving his story a very autobiographical feel. This personal level, added to the note at the end of the story, offers the first of the bunch that feels like a natural addition to the campfire ghost story.

“Return to Mariabronn” - Gary A. Braunbeck: I have enjoyed about half of the other things that I have read of Braunbeck’s - and this story definitely falls under his more enjoyable work. Braunbeck’s interpretation of the haunted road works here and he packs a surprising amount of layers into it. It is definitely one of the stronger stories in the collection, once the initial confusion has passed.

“Following Double-Face Woman” - Erzebeth Yellowboy: This feels like the first genuine modernization of myth in the collection - or at least the most well done. Yellowboy updates the legend of the Deer Woman or Double-Face Woman of Native American tales. Instead of lost travelers, this woman leads youth astray (typically with meth). It is definitely the most moralistic of the stories, which lends it a more traditional feel and makes it more of an authentic modernization than some of the others presented here.

“Oaks Park” - M. K. Hobson: This one may just be the most unsettling of all the stories here. This may be partially attributed to the carnival-esque setting, but the actual premise of being haunted by your own ghost is shockingly spooky in a very simple and unique way. Very well done!

An Aside: I am not quite sure if the stories are actually improving the further I get into the collection, or if I am just becoming more accustomed to the short story format and the general themes of the collection as a whole. Or maybe it’s that this far in, my original expectations are long passed by. And though none of these stories is nightmare-inducing, they are, on the whole, quite fascinating.

“For Those Who Peril On The Sea” - Stephen Dedman: Though set in Australia - the land that houses all of the world’s deadliest natural creations - the ocean setting and the story itself falls a bit flat and quite short of my expectations from the scary-front. I think Dedman missed an opportunity here with the natural terrors of his setting, but otherwise, the characters are all really fleshed out and this is one of the first ones that really feels like it could have been an entire novel. The reality tv spin adds a comedic sort of twist.

“The Foxes” - Lily Hoang: This interesting and thought-provoking story contains some graphic disease-related imagery that comes the closest yet to nightmare-causing, but the uncertain origin story for this legend detracts from its overall strength.

“The Redfield Girls” - Laird Barron: This creepy addition features some very realistic and sympathetic characters. This Crescent Lake area would make the perfect backdrop to a full-length novel, as well. It has some chilling moments, too. A very strong entry!

“Chucky Comes To Liverpool” - Ramsey Campbell: At first this one feels like a bit of joke. The characters are strong, though, so despite the urban-legend-based-on-a-film-premise, this quickly adds the ranks of the stronger stories in the collection. I have actually never seen any of the Chucky films, nor was I aware of the hubbub they caused. The note at the end of the story certainly causes some real spine-chills.

“The Folding Man” - Joe R. Lansdale: Loving Lansdale’s writing style the way I do, I really have set the bar high for this story, and though it opens so well, ultimately, I think this is a rather disappointing way to end the book. The bursting eyeballs, overly cartoonish villain and the murdered dog all combine to create an overly gory and silly (but not in a good way) finale.

So while the book had its ups and downs, on the whole, this was a pretty solid collection of short stories. Some definitely appealed more than others, but it was entertaining and certainly engrossing. ...more

This fast and fun e-short story opens up with Chet the Jet’s infamous last day of K-9 school, and we finally all learn just how a cat was involved inThis fast and fun e-short story opens up with Chet the Jet’s infamous last day of K-9 school, and we finally all learn just how a cat was involved in his disgrace in the jumping portion of the test. But Quinn remains careful to hide away the exact details still of Bernie’s fall from the police force. Causing some confusion, however, is the fact that Bernie is already divorced here. Though it has been a while since I have read the first book in the series, I recall having the distinct impression that Chet was already in Bernie’s life before Leda left. But that continuity hitch aside, this is a very fun - and altogether too short! - prequel to this terrific series!...more

Short stories have never been my favorite medium, but dogs are among my favorite characters in fiction, so I hoped that this would be a fun collectionShort stories have never been my favorite medium, but dogs are among my favorite characters in fiction, so I hoped that this would be a fun collection - perfect to take along with me for a weekend at the lake house. Unfortunately, this is only the perfect collection to accompany a box of tissues and a private room - well, unless you are a pretty crier and don’t mind when people keep asking you what’s wrong! From the very first story, “Gracie’s Last Walk,” Katz opens with - as the title suggests - loss. This theme of loss and death appears directly or in passing within several of the other stories (“Yankee Dog”, “Old Dogs,” “Guardian Angel”). One positive attribute that is featured in nearly every story is the importance of animal shelters. Though many purebred dogs are mentioned here, it is shelters and rescue organizations that are highlighted (in nearly every single story) - and their uphill battle makes dog-lovers want to go and adopt another dog after some of the stories (“The Surrender Bay”, “Puppy Commando,” “Laura Passerby”). And though the collection focuses on dogs - other animals are featured, too (“Barn Cat,” “). Katz also plays with point-of-view in several stories and sets them in rather unusual locations (“Day in the Life of Pearl and Joan,” “Luther and Minnie in Heaven”). The theme that surprised me the most, and really added to the overall depressing nature of the collection was the mention of economics. Like the importance of shelters, almost every story had a character out of work, or in financial trouble, or made mention of how much more difficult it is to pay for a pet after what Katz consistently terms, the “Great Recession of 2008”. While I do think that it is important to realize just how deeply affected our country has been, I just wasn’t expecting this from a collection of stories titled, DANCING DOGS. I expected a lot more joy and whimsy, and a lot less tears and hardship. ...more

This collection of short stories was surprisingly dark - well-written, but quite dark. Short stories are really not my favorite form of fiction, and tThis collection of short stories was surprisingly dark - well-written, but quite dark. Short stories are really not my favorite form of fiction, and this was, unfortunately, no exception. Reading them all in one sitting really compounded their negativity, so perhaps this wouldn’t feel quite as overwhelming had I read them spaced out over the course of a month or so instead. The collection was a bit uneven, with some stories a lot more engrossing than others. Of course, those stronger stories were also the most frustrating, too because they left me wanting more... I guess it is the format and overall tone that really disappointed me the most. I should probably stop trying out short story collections - the only one that hasn't been a disappointment was John Connolly’s collection, Nocturnes....more

I'm not really a huge fan of the short story format, but this collection was more entertaining than most. Stephen King's son is talented in his own riI'm not really a huge fan of the short story format, but this collection was more entertaining than most. Stephen King's son is talented in his own right, that is for sure! This collection varied in subject and length, with some stories being little more than a page, and others much longer. I have read Hill's two novels, and I think that some of his best characters, however, can be found within these stories. He has a particularly good grasp on adolescent boys. None of these stories stood out as being especially frightening, but they were entertaining and I was surprised by the emotional level displayed in many of them. While I think Horns has been his finest work to date, I did enjoy this more than Heart-Shaped Box.Horns...more

This book fell a bit short of my expectations. I had been hoping for some type of sneak-peek or short story taking place after the events of Dead andThis book fell a bit short of my expectations. I had been hoping for some type of sneak-peek or short story taking place after the events of Dead and Gone, but these short stories all take place before the events of Dead and Gone - some set as early as the fourth book! They were all fun to read, and I am definitely looking forward to re-reading the series with the short stories in the right chronological order once the series ends. This was a fast read, and now it will be a long wait until the next book comes out! ...more

This was an interesting collection of three short stories, or more properly, I suppose, three novellas. I liked them more than I expected to, since thThis was an interesting collection of three short stories, or more properly, I suppose, three novellas. I liked them more than I expected to, since this is not one of my favorite forms of fiction. I did enjoy his full-length novel, Under the Skin, much more, but I still liked reading these stories. They showed the same blend of interesting characters and unsettling atmospheres. I did want more from each story, so I am not sure if that is a good or bad thing, really. I just wanted them to keep going. The first story, where the title for the book originates, had some pretty large gaps left in at the end, which was rather frustrating. The second story was fun with the dog in it, but "The Fahrenheit Twins" - the last story with a a strange, almost fairy-tale-like quality to it was definitely my favorite of the collection and the one I especially wished had been a full-length novel.Under the Skin...more

I read this book for the first time in the summer of 2004, and decided to re-visit it four years later. It hadn’t made a memorable impression on me frI read this book for the first time in the summer of 2004, and decided to re-visit it four years later. It hadn’t made a memorable impression on me from that summer, but I did recall liking it. This time around, I was shocked by how little I had remembered about it, so unfortunately, though this set of four short stories that interlink together was interesting, it was rather forgettable. The links between the stories provided the most fascinating aspect of this rather hard to classify book as a whole. The book was certainly well written, though, but unfortunately not very relatable. When it ended, it just felt lacking... There was nothing really hatable about the book, but certainly nothing lovable either....more

This is a book of short stories, so I would think that the best way to respond would be to each one individually ... all 15 (though there is, apparentThis is a book of short stories, so I would think that the best way to respond would be to each one individually ... all 15 (though there is, apparently, a different version with even more stories - so it looks like I will be buying the updated copy at some point!):"The Cancer Cowboy Rides" - This was a quite chilling and remarkably grotesque story about a living cancer, embodied in "Buddy". A truly disgusting story, it was certainly entertaining and a quite solid short story."Mr. Pettinger's Daemon" - A much shorter story, but no less eerie and very reminiscent of The Descent... this one would be good for expansion, as many questions to the nature of the Beast have gone unanswered. The most interesting tidbit was the reference to the cannibalism of WWI... I wonder if that is actually based on historical record."The Erlking" - An eerie short story that reminded me of The Book of Lost Things more than anything else he's written so far. I thought I read somewhere that this one was going to be expanded into a screenplay, that I would certainly be interested in seeing! This one is the most fairy-tale-like so far."The New Daughter" - Yikes... this was by far the creepiest story... and the best so far as expansion into a movie, I think. This one is my favorite so far... so creepy! I do hope that the movie is made! I would definitely see it - though I might be a bit scared to!"The Ritual of the Bones" - Ehhh... gross, but this one wasn't as darkly enchanting as the previous two. All in all, an average scary story."The Furnace Room" - An interesting twist of Hear-No-Evil, See-No-Evil and Speak-No-Evil, mixed with the Fates... fun and quick, but not terribly thought provoking."The Witches of Underbury" - The is was a very interesting short story and it would be interesting to learn if the actual witches in that town are based on a true story."The Inkpot Monkey" - A "cute" scary story, focusing on the "hazards" of writer's block. More funny and quaint than creepy, but still an enjoyable story."The Shifting of the Sands" - The problem with these short stories is that they are so... short. They are intriguing and do have a beginning, middle and usually a rather haunting open ending, but the would be better with more detail, stronger characters... in other words, length."Some Children Wander By Mistake" - A clown story - yikes! Though a pretty typical scary story and not too terribly unique."Deep, Dark Green" - Something about this short story reminded me of a poem... there was just something oddly poetic about it."Miss Froom, Vampire" - What a fun little vampire story! I just love a fun vampire story - who doesn't?"Nocturne" - A more typical ghost story - still eerie, but not anything very remarkable."The Wakeford Abyss" - Spiders!!! Yuck! Also reminiscent of The Descent... I wonder if Connolly has read that book..."The Reflecting Eye" - I was surprised that this Charlie Parker story was included, though I did enjoy it and it did bridge some of the gaps around his daughter's birth. He is a very good writer, with a real talent for humourous dialogue, building suspense and inclusion of "normal" paranormal activity. The ending certainly surprised me, though some questions were left quite unanswered. It just makes me eager for the next Charlie Parker novel!!Upon Re-Reading "The Reflecting Eye": This Charlie Parker novella, within Connolly’s Nocturnes, a collection of spooky stories, chronologically follows The White Road in the series. Fitting in with the overall collection, this one has a strong supernatural bend to it. It also includes series regulars and introduces characters who will come to play larger roles in the books to come. Samantha, Charlie and Rachel’s daughter, is born here and the enigmatic Collector makes his debut as well. Though he is certainly a darker character, I have always found the Collector to be a particularly intriguing character and it is surprising to me that this slim novella contains so much pivotal action to the overall series and the character arcs....more

I enjoyed this book of essays quite a bit. It had parts that were laugh-out-loud funny, but it was not on the same caliber as the essay collections ofI enjoyed this book of essays quite a bit. It had parts that were laugh-out-loud funny, but it was not on the same caliber as the essay collections of David Sedaris. Actually, this reminded me of the essays of Chuck Klosterman, but with more of a political slant than an entertainment based one. I would read his other books, but I guess I am not really going to race to the store for another one. It was an entertaining collection, but there isn’t really that one essay that I felt like I just had to share with a friend, or re-read over and over to laugh again and again. ...more

I sat down with this collection of short, retold fairy tales and definitely did not intend on reading it one sitting. It was a fast read, but what droI sat down with this collection of short, retold fairy tales and definitely did not intend on reading it one sitting. It was a fast read, but what drove me through the book so quickly wasn’t enjoyment, so much as the search for pleasure in one of the stories. Unfortunately, the magic was drained right out of these fairy tales - it was more of a modernization than anything else. Which certainly was not what I was expecting, which disappointed me. It was interesting enough, I suppose, but it read more like poetry than prose in parts, which added to my overall dislike of the collection. ...more

This is a VERY strange book. Through a collection of short stories - well, vignettes is perhaps a better term - the book recounts a fictional future.This is a VERY strange book. Through a collection of short stories - well, vignettes is perhaps a better term - the book recounts a fictional future. And while it is a fast, engaging read, very reminiscent of The Handmaid's Tale, it frankly makes little sense. The writing is strong... but there isn't really enough of it there to redeem the book. Maybe this would be better for a book club so that there could be a discussion about it... because, I must admit, some meaning was definitely lost on me. It is interesting, though I would have preferred this idea to be presented in the more traditional novel form... I never have been a big fan of short stories, after all, and these feel especially brief even for the sub-genre....more